Landscape Research Group
The Landscape Research Group is a small, but well-established and dynamic group of individuals from various disciplines within the School whose fundamental focus of research is the landscape. Our major interests lie in the examination of cultural, historical and social landscape issues and landscape sustainability. These interests are flexible enough to allow for a number of research themes to be pursued by staff and research students. Both staff and students may be members of other research groups and centres within the School and many also have strong links to other research activities within the University, with academics in other universities and engagement with practitioners and professionals in the region, nationally and internationally. We run the editorial office of the peer-reviewed international journal Landscape Research published by Taylor and Francis.
We welcome applications from those interested in pursuing research at MPhil or doctoral (PhD) level in subjects related to landscape. Research students have opportunities for working with staff on projects, joint publications and teaching. Staff provide strands of landscape teaching within the School’s taught programmes and those wishing to prepare for a career in academic research are encouraged to consider the MA in Planning and Environmental Research which provides opportunities for landscape specialisation.
Our academic staff are involved in a variety of research projects and collaborations both in the UK and internationally. We have gained funding for research from a range of sources including ESRC, Defra, British Council, DfID, Natural England, OneNE, Scottish Natural Heritage, Durham City Council, and the North East Community Forests (NECF). We are actively engaged in applying for research council grants and other funding opportunities, including those which involve student collaborations. Some members of the Group work mostly in an independent manner, while others look for opportunities for collaboration and cross-disciplinary working.
In recent years we have hosted a number of visiting researchers and research fellows from around the world and our researchers are routinely involved in presentations, conferences and other academic activities with the UK based Landscape Research Group and Landscape Research Journal. We have research and teaching links with a number of international institutions and we always welcome enquiries from scholars wishing to spend time with us on collaborative study or in building mutually beneficial academic links.
Research Themes and Interest Areas
Theme: The Development of Landscape Architecture Theory, Philosophy and Environmental Ethics
- Perceptions, preferences, attitudes to and psychology of landscape
- Environmental ethics and philosophy
- Landscape aesthetics and theory of design
Theme: Sustainable Landscape Planning, Design & Management
- Landscape policy implementation and analysis
- Planning for climate change mitigation and adaptation
- Ecological landscape planning
- Participatory landscape planning and design
- Coastal landscape planning and design
- Green infrastructure and multifunctional landscape planning
- Landscape planning in developing countries
Theme: The History and Development of the Designed and Cultural Landscape
- The development of cultural landscapes
- History and theory of gardens and designed landscapes
- Social and cultural impacts on the landscape
- Management of cultural landscapes
For further information regarding the Landscape Research Group at Newcastle please contact Maggie Roe m.h.roe@ncl.ac.uk